National Council committee wants to allow tobacco advertising in newspapers
Published: Friday, Jan 19th 2024, 19:20
Updated At: Friday, Jan 19th 2024, 19:20
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The responsible National Council committee wants to continue to allow tobacco advertising in the inside section of newspapers and magazines for adults. In doing so, it is going against the Council of States, which wants to strictly implement the tobacco advertising ban initiative on this point.
Specifically, according to the National Council's Social Security and Health Committee (SGK-N), tobacco advertising should remain permitted in those newspapers and magazines that are sold by subscription and whose readership consists of at least 95 percent adults, as the parliamentary services announced on Friday. This weakening had failed in the Council of States.
According to the SGK-N, references to sales promotion and sponsorship as well as the sale of tobacco products by mobile sales staff in publicly accessible places that can be visited by minors should also not be prohibited. In this respect, the National Council committee is in line with the Council of States.
Unlike the small chamber, however, the SGK-N does not want to allow direct, personal sales promotions of cigars and cigarillos. Such promotions should only be permitted in places to which minors do not have access.
"Massive disregard for the will of the people"
The association behind the initiative criticized these Commission decisions in a press release as a "massive disregard for the will of the people". In the vote in February 2022, the people and cantons decided that tobacco advertising, advertising for e-cigarettes and other nicotine products must not reach children and young people, the statement said.
Accordingly, the sponsors have "no understanding" for the fact that undefined exceptions for advertising and sponsorship should be permitted if minors are present. Sponsorship should simply not be permitted as long as minors are present at festivals or other events on the site. This is the only way to respect the will of the people.
The bill is to be discussed in the spring session. The plan is for the new provisions to come into force from 2026.
©Keystone/SDA
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